Pencil



Dmn zo, 1927.

W. R. CUTHBERT ET AL PENCIL Filed March 24,

NQ QRNMU..\\\ \l M Patented Dec. 20, 1927. l

WILLIAM R. CUTHBERT AND WILLIAM H.

PATENTv OFFICE.

LINDEMON, oF FORT MADISON, IOWA, As-

SIGNORS T W. A. SHEAFFER PEN COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F IOWA.

` PENCIL.

- Application mea Mami 24, 1922. serial N9. 546,280.

Our invention relates` to that type .of pencil employing mechanism for propelling l and repelling` the ends of individual leads beyond the end of the pencil barrel and for completely expelling the pencil lead therefrom.

The primary object of our invention 1s to improve devices of this character generally, the improvements embodying the present 1nvention being more particularly directed t0 the particular means of anchoring the lead propelling7 repelling and expelling mechanism within the pencil casing and the construction of the slotted screw sleeve for moving the pencil lead within `the casing.

One of the novel features of our invention is the means for arresting the pencil lead socket or clutch in its outward movement and then expelling the pencil lead from the clutch by a continuous rotation of the cap of the pencil barrel.

Other objects of the invention w-ill appear from the following description, which is directed to the preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification. p

In the said drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a pencil embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view i of the lower portion of the barrel of a'pencil embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the anchoring block and the pencil lead moving mechanism assembled and removed from the pencil casing.

Fig. 5 is a detail View of the guide tube.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the screw sleeve.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View of the anchoring block.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the anchoring block showing the screw sleeve journalled therein, a portion of the screw` sleeve being broken away.

Referring now to the drawings, the pencil embodying the invention as illustrated therein comprises an outer casin or barrel 10, which terminates at one of its ends in the conically shaped or tapered portion l1. The conically shaped or tapered portion 11 is provided with an axial opening 12 therein of such contour and size 1n cross section as will permit the pencil lead or crayon that 1t is proposed to use in the pencil to have free reciprocal movement therethrough. The barrel or outer casing forms a housing for the reception therein of the pencil lead propelling, repelling and expelling mechanism.

lVe shall now proceed to describe our improved pencil lead propelling, repelling and expelling mechanism, which may be madeof any suitable material, preferably brass -and aluminum, and which comprises an anchoring block 13, which in the interest of lightness of weight, we preferably make of aluminum. The upper portion of block 13 like the main body of the pencil casing is cylindrical and the lower portion thereof is tapered or conical in shape in order to conform to the surface of the periphery of the i inner face of the tapered or conical portion or spread at their upper ends after the kerfs are cut, and which yieldably engage the inner wall of casing 10 securely anchoring the block 13 therein. Central bore 15 passing longitudinally through block 13 is of such diameter as to snugly receive in a tight push fit the guide tube 16 and rigidly hold the tube in frictional engagement with the block. Bore 15 is enlarged at its upper end as at 21 to form a bearing on its bottom 2O for screw sleeve 26. The outer wall of the tube 16 is bevelled Yor tapered at its lower end as at 17 to conform to and frictiona-lly engage with the surface of the inner wall of has a tendency to weaken the tube, which weakness is apt to result in distortion of the tube under the strain necessary in forcing the tube into engagement. with block 13, with which it must have an exceedingly snug or tight fit in order to form an efficient union therewith. After uniting the block and the tube we use a cutter for forming the slot 18 in the tube, thus preserving the perfect align# ment of the guide tube. The block and guide tube may of course be made of one piece of any suitable material, although' in the interest of economy of manufacture we prefer to make them separately and assemble them, as described. The tubular lead socket or clutch 22 which is carried within the guide tube 16 and adapted to have free reciprocal movement therein may be kerfed or otherwise made resilient at its lower end in order to grip the inner end of a pencil lead 23 when the lead is introduced thereinto, and is provided with a stud 24 adjacent its upper end, which stud is adapted to extend through longitudinal slot 18 of guideV tube 16 and slidably engage the spiral slot 25 of screw sleeve 26, as-'clearly shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noted by reference to Figs. 2, 3,

4 and 6 that the spiral slot 25 of screw sleeve 26 extends from a point a short distance below the upper end of screw sleeve 26 and terminates in a slot 27 running at right angles to the' axis of the sleeve at the lower end thereof, leaving a shoulder or flange 27b on the lower end of the screw sleeve 26,' which shoulder or flange extends around the screw sleeve approximately 180 degrees and cont-acts with and is adapted to rotate on the bottom 20 of bore 21. of block 13, thereby forming a guide way at` right angles to the axes of guide tube 16 and screw sleeve 26 for .the reception therein of stud 24 of the clutch 22, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

It will be noted that the upper wall 27 of slot 27 slopes upwardly from flange 27b to the point of its juncture with spiral slot 25 making the Aslot 27 wider at this point.` This construction is for the purpose of providing an unobstructed passageway to. prevent binding. or jamming of-.the stud 24 of tubular lead socket 22 at its point of entry into slot 25 when the point 26a of screw sleeve 26 engages the stud to feed it\upwardly of the screw sleeve to withdraw the pencil lead in wardly ofthe pencil casing. v

It will be noted by reference to Figs. 3 and 5 that the course of slot 27 of screw sleeve 26 is in a diametrically opposite direction to the right angular slot 19 of guide tube 16 Dwith which it registers, thereby permitting approximately one complete revolution of screw sleeve 26 after stud 24 of clutch 22 contacts with the bottom 20 of bore 21 of block 13 in its outward movement, thereby permitting the plunger 28 to be moved forwardly of the pencil barrel to completely expel the lead therefrom by the engagement of stud 29 with slot 25 of screw sleeve 26 when the sleeve is rotated in the right hand direc tion. Rotatable cap 30 has tubular inwardly extending portion 31, the outer walls of which are in frictional engagement with rotatable sleeve 32 having at its end reduced portion 33 frictionally engaging screw sleeve 26 in such manner as to rotate the sleeve therewith.

After the guide tube 16 has been introduced into the block 13, as heretofore described, and the clutch 22 and plunger rod are properly inserted within the guide tube, washer 34 is slipped thereon and the screw sleeve 26 placed over the assembled pieces when the washer 34a is placed 011 the end 0f screw sleeve 26 and around guide tube 16 and the protruding end of guide tube 16 is liared outwardly, as clearly shown at 35, Fig. 4, thus securely holding the assembled parts in proper operative relation. ve then insert the parts thusassembled in the barrel 10 forcing them inwardly until block 13 is forced into frictional engagement with the inner wall of the tapered or conical portion 11 of the barrel 10. Inasmuch as the outer diameter of block 13 at its outer kerfed portion, is greater than' the inner diameter of casing 10, it will be readily understood that when block 13 is forced into'the inner casing the yieldable or spring-like portions 13b intermediate the kerfs 13 will be forced inwardly and will exert an outward pressure against the inner walls of the casing, thereby positively and definitely securing the assembled parts against movement wit-h relation to the casing. This construction of an .anchoring block for anchoring the lead propelling, repelling and expelling mechanism within the casing of a lead pencil affords means by which the parts can be eiiiciently and securely assembled with the minimum expenditure of time, labor and cost, and solves a ditlicult problem in the manufacture of such pencils. Heretofore in pencils of this general type it has been customaryY to anchor the working parts for propelling, repelling and expelling the lead by soldering some part of the inner working pars of the pencil analogous to the block 13 to the pencil casing or shell corresponding to the part 10. Since this soldering operation must take place near the tip of the pencil, which is preferably closed, considerable difficulty and loss in manufacture has resulted, because of the inaccessibility of these parts and there has also been some difliculty in removing soldered parts at inaccessible'portions of the casing for making repairs or replacing parts. The present invention provides a construction and method for anchoring the working parts in the pencil casing that is simple and economical and is not liable to permit the parts to get in wrong positions found most successful and that is preferred by us, but it is not desired to be limited to the details of the' invention except as defined in the claims, since it will be apparent that persons skilled in the art may resort to various modifications without departing from the purpose and spirit of the invention. I

IVe claim: l. A lead pencil of the character described comprising an outer casing, a, cap carried by one end 'of the casing and rotatably related thereto, an anchoring block having an axial bore extending therethrough carried within and secured to the casing, the upper portion of said bore being enlarged, a guide tube extending through the bore, a pencil lead engaging socket adapted to have reciprocal movementV within the tube, a stud carried by the socket, a plungerV rod adapted to have reciprocal movement within the socket, and a sleeve rotatably seated in the enlarged portion of the bore, the sleeve having a spiral slot through the walls thereof from a point below the upper end of the sleeve and terminating in a slot at right angles to the axis thereof, thereby forming a guideway for the movement therein of the stud carried by the pencil lead engaging socket,

which stud engages the spiral slot.

2. A lead pencil of the character described comprising an outer casing, a cap carried by one end of the casing and rotatably related thereto, an anchoring block having an axial bore extending therethrough carried within and secured to the casing, the bore being enlarged at its upper portion, a

n, guide tube extending through the bore, a

pencil lead engaging socket adapted to have reciprocal movement within the guide tube, a plunger rod adapted to have reciprocal movement within the, socket, and a sleeve rotatably seated in the enlarged portion of the bore, the sleeve having a spiral slot through the walls thereof from a point below the upper end of the sleeve and terminating in a slot at right angles to the axis thereof, thereby forming a guideway between the upper wall of the right angle slot and the bottom of the enlarged portion of the bore.

3. A lead pencil of the character described, comprising an outer casing, an anchoring block having an ,axial bore extend ing therethrough and secured within the casing, the upper portion of the bore being enlarged, a guide tube extending through the bore, a pencil lead engaging socket adapted to have reciprocal movement within the tube, a stud carried by the socket, a'

plunger rod adapted to have reciprocal movement within the socket, a sleeve rotatably seated in the enlarged portion of the bore, the sleeve having a spiral slot through the walls thereof from a point below the up-v per end of the sleeve and terminating in a slot at right angles to the axis thereof and extending partway around the sleeve, the

last named slot being wider at its point of juncture with the spiral slot than at its closed end, thereby forming a guideway for the movement therein of the stud carried by the pencil lead engaving' socket, which stud engages the spiral sot, and means carried by the casing' for rotatinglthe sleeve.

4. A lead pencil of the character described comprising an outer casing having a conically shaped end, an anchoring block conically shaped at one of its ends and having an axial bore therethrough, the'bore being enlarged from the upper end of the block r to a point intermediate its ends where an internal shoulder is produced forming a flat bottom, the walls vof the enlarged portion of the bore being kerfed from their outer ends inwardly, a spirally slotted sleeve 'for imparting movement to a pencil lead, 'ournalled within the enlarged portion o the bore and seated on the bottom thereof, and.

means carried by the casing for imparting rotary movement to the sleeve.

Y In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification on this 21st da of March, A. D. 1922. WILLIAM R. CUTHBERT. WILLIAM H. LINDEMON. 

